I have a tendency to discount myself and my opinions. One reason I've been so thrilled over Elliott is that his voice comes into me, shakes me and says, "you matter! You love music and especially the singing voice and that's just as important as anything in this world!".

I notice that sometimes I feel a little of all of our insecurities when we worry over being crazed fans and that DJ's and others will scoff at us. But we need to know and they do too that we are the people who matter - we're not just silly, mindless fans , we're people who need to hear "singers" just to live. We are the character, Frederick, from the childrens' book author, Leo Lionni (check it out - so precious). We know that civilization would not survive without art. All that is good about us is found in our art. I do know that fads are driven by craziness and many who follow the fads are just that, followers, but the real music geniuses still somehow seem to emerge. That is because of people like us, the music people, the people who really care. We have taken Elliott as our cause because he is just that wonderful. I will not be ashamed to be a fan - this is a cause and it is a worthy one. The reason that I've encountered people who don't immediately love Elliott is that they aren't wired the same way I am and they literally aren't listening - my poor co-worker, for instance, actually told me that she listen to 610 radio, a news station, for goodness sake. I wondered what she did in her spare time since she doesn't really seem to know anything about music, movies, TV, theater, etc. She had not even bothered to listen to the Elliott CD I gave her last May, but she said that her 20 something son listened to it over the holidays while he visited and loved it. She said Elliott had a new fan. The news is fine and all that, but I listen for a second and then go to the many splendid places in my mind and soul that Elliott's voice takes me to. We are the music people and we count.

Last night was shopping in Walmart and a familiar voice came on the loudspeaker. It was Elliott singing "Movin' On". It sounded really good even at low volume and I was walking down the aisles with a big old smile on my face.

When it comes to music people are captives of those who can create it and the sound that is deemed important by society at the time. In a day when anybody who can carry a tune can become a singing star by turning a few knobs, it seems strange for a single real human voice to matter so much, but it does--to me.

Elliott IS just cause for a positive role model in music, and it is US, his followers who have the TRUE cause of believing in him for this reason and also, that HE IS A TRUE MUSIC ARTIST!!!
Need I not make no more sense here??? DUH, I'm just having a BARACK OBAMA inspirational moment, excuse me!!!

This is a great thread!! Music is alive and well as Elliott has given us the best . On this journey with Elliott he has brought such inspiration , love and also hard work. We on this journey with Elliott have been over the bumps, climbed the hills, and also coasted and chugged along through all kinds of triumps and disappointments.. but listening to Elliott sing with such a soothing voice , he makes it all worth while. Elliott puts a smile on my face . My total enjoyment is listening to the lyrics and words that Elliott sings.

Imthesame, I might also add I love your thoughts, and I too, at the time I came to know of Elliott and his music had become distanced from music AND art as a whole, so as I quickly jumped on board to become a FIRSTTIME fan of anyone, I was instantly INSPIRED by what I knew he had to offer the world, and I'll 4-EVER proclaim, he's A BEST POSITIVE MUSIC ROLE MODEL YET for US AND OUR KIDS!!! My kids have picked up his words and vocals for his songs, and they have learned to carry his tune!!! It's so great hearing them sing altogether HIS SONGS!!! Music to me is a PEACEMAKER!!! And I love ELLIOTT YAMIN 4-EVER for that!!! E's a musicmaker and a peacemaker!!! WOW!!!

I love your post. Yes, we do count.

:etrain: